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Early predictors of communication development in young children with autism spectrum disorder: joint attention, imitation, and toy play.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Toth, K; Munson, J; Meltzoff, AN; Dawson, G
Published in: J Autism Dev Disord
November 2006

This study investigated the unique contributions of joint attention, imitation, and toy play to language ability and rate of development of communication skills in young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Sixty preschool-aged children with ASD were assessed using measures of joint attention, imitation, toy play, language, and communication ability. Two skills, initiating protodeclarative joint attention and immediate imitation, were most strongly associated with language ability at age 3-4 years, whereas toy play and deferred imitation were the best predictors of rate of communication development from age 4 to 6.5 years. The implications of these results for understanding the nature and course of language development in autism and for the development of targeted early interventions are discussed.

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Published In

J Autism Dev Disord

DOI

ISSN

0162-3257

Publication Date

November 2006

Volume

36

Issue

8

Start / End Page

993 / 1005

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Psychological Tests
  • Prospective Studies
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Play and Playthings
  • Language Development Disorders
  • Interviews as Topic
  • Imitative Behavior
  • Humans
  • Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
 

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Toth, K., Munson, J., Meltzoff, A. N., & Dawson, G. (2006). Early predictors of communication development in young children with autism spectrum disorder: joint attention, imitation, and toy play. J Autism Dev Disord, 36(8), 993–1005. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-006-0137-7
Toth, Karen, Jeffrey Munson, Andrew N. Meltzoff, and Geraldine Dawson. “Early predictors of communication development in young children with autism spectrum disorder: joint attention, imitation, and toy play.J Autism Dev Disord 36, no. 8 (November 2006): 993–1005. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-006-0137-7.
Toth, Karen, et al. “Early predictors of communication development in young children with autism spectrum disorder: joint attention, imitation, and toy play.J Autism Dev Disord, vol. 36, no. 8, Nov. 2006, pp. 993–1005. Pubmed, doi:10.1007/s10803-006-0137-7.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Autism Dev Disord

DOI

ISSN

0162-3257

Publication Date

November 2006

Volume

36

Issue

8

Start / End Page

993 / 1005

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Psychological Tests
  • Prospective Studies
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Play and Playthings
  • Language Development Disorders
  • Interviews as Topic
  • Imitative Behavior
  • Humans
  • Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders